By Dalton Balthaser

 

MIDDLETOWN - In last year’s Rhode Island Women’s Amateur at Montaup Country Club, Gianna Papa set the course record for women with a 67.

 

Her sister Vinny got tired of hearing about it. She wanted her own.

 

“I was trying hard to get a course record of my own,” said Papa. “My sister got one last year at Montaup in the Stroke-Play portion of this tournament. I didn’t want her to have bragging rights anymore.”

 

With two holes remaining in her round of Stroke-Play Qualifying in this year’s edition, Vinny had one in her sights. 

 

She was 3 under through 16 holes but two 3-putt bogeys on Nos. 17 (par 3, 146 yards) and 18 (par 4, 338 yards) took away her chances.

 

“I had an idea that I might have a chance at the Women’s Course Record,” said Papa. “I just wanted to par the last two holes, but my putter let me down. I hit both the greens but the putts got away from me. 

 

The women’s course record at Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club is 71.

 

While she didn’t get the record, Vinny took medalist honors and the No. 1 seed in the Stroke-Play Qualifying portion of the #RIWomensAm Monday at Wanumetonomy (par 73, 5,487 yards).

 

Defending Champion Alexis Florio isn’t competing in the event.

 

Vinny, of Pinecrest Golf Club, will take on No. 16 seed Marilyn Weigner of Wannamoisett Country Club Tuesday in the Round of 16.

 

Vinny carded a round of 72. It was the only under-par round of the day.

 

“I have been happy with how I have been playing recently,” said Papa, 12, of Foster. “I have been putting well and my driver has been going 15 yards farther.”

 

That added length has made most if not all par 4 and par 5 greens reachable in two for Vinny. With her consistency, it gives her a huge advantage.

 

She got off to a hot start. She birdied four of her first seven holes.

 

She got into red figures on No. 1 (par 4, 300 yards) after she hit a crisp 8-iron from 125 yards to 12 feet. She made a tap-in birdie on No. 3 (par 5, 397 yards) after a perfect chip.

 

She rolled in matching 10-footers on Nos. 6 (par 5, 383 yards) and 7 (par 4, 225 yards) to get to 4 under.

 

 

“I wanted to go out there and make some birdies,” said Papa. “A big key for me has been to try and limit the mistake I make out there. I’ve been able to make enough birdies but I have been making too many bogeys.”

 

She made a total of five bogeys in the last 11 holes mixed with two birdies. All of those five bogeys were the result of a 3-putt. She hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. The only green she missed was on No. 9 (par 4, 293 yards) but she was a couple feet from the putting surface.

 

Papa comes into the event in good form. She just recently won the New England PGA’s Junior Championship by 10 shots. She’s more than ready to get her first #RIWomensAm title. But knows there is a long week of golf ahead.

 

“I just need to be smarter with my putting the rest of the week,” said Papa, a rising eighth grader at Ponaganset Middle School. “In the beginning of the round I was focusing on my speed, and I made four birdies. On the back nine, I tried to make everything, and I made four bogeys. I can’t lose focus.”